One More Elimination

The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament was held every five years, with the four great empires taking turns hosting it.

As the continent's foremost academy, Shrek Academy had naturally claimed the championship every time.

Every five years, Shrek Academy also selected a new generation of the Shrek Seven Devils. The newly chosen Shrek Seven Devils were only reserves and would accompany the previous generation to the Soul Fighting Tournament to gain experience, then take the stage as the main team in the next tournament...

Outer academy, Soul Fighting Arena.

Shrek Academy's Soul Fighting Arena was a standard square arena, with each side measuring a full seventy to eighty meters.

Xuan Zi looked the same as ever, dressed in greasy white cloth clothes, his hair a tangled mess. He gnawed on a chicken drumstick in his right hand, occasionally raising the wine gourd in his left to gulp down a mouthful.

Before him, Wang Yan respectfully reported, "Xuan Zi, twenty-six Core Disciples from the Martial Soul Department's second through fifth years have arrived. Only one has come from the Soul Tool Department."

Xuan Zi nodded and said unhurriedly, "Bring them all into the Soul Fighting Zone."

As Shrek Academy's second-highest-ranking figure, Xuan Zi held an exalted position, so not all the Core Disciples knew him. Instead, they felt little goodwill toward this disheveled drunkard who had suddenly appeared.

Though everyone harbored doubts, seeing how respectfully Wang Yan treated him, they figured he certainly could not be an ordinary person.

Since the new Shrek Seven Devils were to be selected, the Soul Fighting Zone had been cleared in advance. There were no other teachers or students; apart from Xuan Zi, Wang Yan, and a few teachers, only the twenty-seven participants were present.

Xuan Zi walked to the center of the Soul Fighting Arena, stopped, and turned to look at the twenty-seven of them. In a lazy tone, he said, "Listen up, you little brats. The test you're about to take is simple. It's called a group free-for-all."

"As the name suggests, you can attack freely within the Soul Fighting Arena. Fight whoever you like. There are no rules. Anyone knocked off the arena, or rescued after surrendering, is eliminated. Only seven people can remain at the end."

Everyone exchanged looks at his words. What kind of rules were these?

There were twenty-seven of them, after all, spanning the second through fifth years, with a gap of more than twenty levels between the strongest and weakest. What could a free-for-all like this possibly test? A lower-year student would probably be eliminated by a single Soul Skill from a higher-year student.

Before the students could react, Xuan Zi suddenly raised his wine gourd and shouted, "Begin!"

With that, Xuan Zi instantly vanished and appeared outside the arena, waiting to watch the show.

In the blink of an eye, only the twenty-seven participants remained on the Soul Fighting Arena.

It had all happened so quickly that the students failed to react, falling into a brief daze. But a second later, everyone sprang into motion.

Most chose to retreat toward the edges first. Staying in the center of the battlefield could easily get them instantly taken out by concentrated attacks.

A handful of students unleashed their Soul Skills and attacked directly. In the flash of sparks struck from flint, one person was already eliminated.

Huo Yuhao reacted extremely quickly. The instant Xuan Zi said "Begin," he was already pulling Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao toward Bei Bei...

In a free-for-all of nearly thirty people spanning the second through fifth years, even Soul Ancestors as powerful as Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi could never withstand a combined assault from five or six Soul Elders. After all, everyone admitted to Shrek Academy was a genius, and its Core Disciples were geniuses among geniuses.

Thus, forming a team was undoubtedly the best choice for anyone hoping to survive this free-for-all to the end.

Within a few breaths, the participants had split into two groups: the protagonist team, which included Huo Yuhao, and a temporary team of nearly twenty people formed by Dai Huabin and the others.

After the free-for-all, only seven people remained on the Soul Fighting Arena.

Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, He Caitou, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao.

Looking at the seven of them, Xuan Zi suddenly remembered something and slapped his forehead with a sharp smack.

At this comical sight, several of them burst out laughing. They were also puzzled. Xuan Zi had been perfectly fine, so why had he suddenly come down with some bizarre affliction?

But a second later, Xuan Zi's words froze their expressions on their faces.

"One more of you seven must be eliminated."

Bei Bei was the first to react. Looking at Xuan Zi, he demanded angrily, "Xuan Zi, didn't you say seven people would remain at the end?"

"There are exactly seven of us here. Why do you suddenly want to eliminate another person? At least give us a reason."

Xu Sanshi immediately chimed in, "Exactly! How can you change your mind at the last minute?"

The others said nothing, but they were equally indignant.

Seeing this, Wang Yan hurried to Xuan Zi's side and asked quietly, "Xuan Zi, the new Shrek Seven Monsters have already been selected. What are you doing now?"

Xuan Zi's expression soured. He had actually forgotten what Mu En had said yesterday and selected seven people according to the requirements of previous years...

Bei Bei and the others watched Xuan Zi unhappily, waiting for an answer that could convince them all.

Just as Xuan Zi was considering how to resolve the situation, a figure approached from the distance at an unhurried pace.

As the newcomer drew closer, all six of them apart from He Caitou felt a stirring from their Martial Souls.

For a moment, everyone's gaze shifted toward him.

Seeing who it was, Bei Bei spoke first. "Tianyuan, what brings you here?"

Feeling the aura emanating from Chen Tianyuan, Huo Yuhao's eyes widened, his face filled with shock. This aura was exactly the same as the one he had sensed that day...

At the sight of Chen Tianyuan, Xu Sanshi gritted his teeth. Last time, Chen Tianyuan had said he could help him arrange a meeting with Jiang Nannan and swindled him out of a Mystic Water Pill. Yet when the appointed time came, the person who showed up was a completely clueless Bei Bei...

Seeing Chen Tianyuan, Xuan Zi could no longer be bothered to explain. Mu En had decided to reserve a place for Chen Tianyuan anyway. If anyone had complaints, they could take them to Mu En themselves...

Immediately, Xuan Zi snorted coldly. "Didn't you want a reason? Here it is."

With that, he looked at Chen Tianyuan.

"If any of you is stronger than him, there'll be no need to eliminate another person."

Everyone fell silent at those words. Chen Tianyuan had been able to defeat a high-level Soul Ancestor with only three rings. Now that he had four, it would probably take a Soul Emperor to measure his strength.

Chen Tianyuan, however, was taken aback. He wondered, Why am I being used as a shield the moment I arrive?

Bei Bei looked at the others. Xu Sanshi would undoubtedly stay; that went without saying. The same was true of Jiang Nannan. Next came Huo Yuhao and the others.

Huo Yuhao had to stay, with his Ultimate Ice and Spiritual Detection Sharing...

Besides, he was Bei Bei's junior brother...

Wang Dong also had to stay. After all, he and Huo Yuhao possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Xiao Xiao also had Twin Martial Souls and was responsible for controlling the battlefield for the team. She could not leave either.

That left He Caitou. He Caitou was actually a Soul Ancestor too, as well as a Level 4 Soul Engineer...